Independent Retailers Grapple with Black Friday Pressures

Mark Hodgkiss, proprietor of Mode Menswear in Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, an independent retailer, has called upon consumers to maintain their support for local businesses during the Black Friday sales period. He stated that his establishment abstains from the discount shopping event, citing concerns that smaller stores might feel compelled to offer price reductions they cannot financially sustain. Hodgkiss explained, “Margins are so tight at the moment and the cost of running a business has gone through the roof.” He added, “It’s more important to look after our customers in the first place and offer them competitive prices throughout the year, rather than just doing a discount on one day.” He further commented, “Big corporate retailers can spend a massive amount on marketing for Black Friday and they obviously get a huge number of visitors going in their stores and traffic to their websites.” Hodgkiss concluded, “But for a small independent like us we haven’t got the marketing budget to do that or the buying power for products as well, so it is hard to compete.” Hodgkiss also noted the difficulty of witnessing shops disappear from high streets following the pandemic. He stated, “I think they just find it so tough out there and hard to compete with the Black Friday discounts.” He elaborated, “They feel pressured into doing them, to feel that they have to be competitive and do the discounts, but then actually, they’re losing out.” Mode Menswear specialises in smart-casual attire with a retro mod twist. However, Mr. Hodgkiss highlighted that the store offers more than just fashion advice, underscoring the significant value shops provide within communities. He shared, “We’re a big part of peoples lives, seeing elderly people that might pop in for a bit of a chat and not see anyone else for the rest of the day.” Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.